THEY'VE no doubt saved throughout their lives to afford them some enjoyment in retirement.

The families they have nurtured have grown up and are now raising families of their own, affording them the opportunity to spend some time, and some of their savings on themselves.

Predominantly it is those elderly, innocent people who are drawing pensions and have this additional expenditure to spare who become targets on the so-called "suckers list" - individuals who have fallen victim to mass marketing frauds in the past.

Promises of cash prizes are, more often than not, too good to be true, but for scammers they are the bait to entice and once they are hooked the situation escalates devastating not only the victim's life, but those of their families and loved ones.

Nationally, the profile of this devastating crime continues to be raised through The Think Jessica campaign.

Launched by Marilyn Baldwin OBE after her mum Jessica was subjected to phone and postal scams, the campaign is raising the awareness of the financial implications caused by postal and telephone scams and educating the professionals and protecting those at risk.

Closer to home, initiatives such as the SAFER project are also clamping down on this crime.

Launched three years ago in Bradford, the project, funded by the Big Lottery, is a community protection and empowerment programme working with older adults (55+) and delivering workshops aimed at providing residents with the knowledge, skills and confidence to protect themselves against rogue traders and scams, as well as to provide advice and support to those already in crisis from such activity.

Now the project is adding power to its elbow with a swiftly expanding team, including two financial investigators funded by West Yorkshire Trading Standards, a police officer, funded by the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire, and an adult social care health professional.

The aim, explains Linda Davis, a manager with West Yorkshire Trading Standards, is to share data and information and provide a collaborative approach to protect those who are being targeted and step up the crack down on this devastating crime.

Linda explains in West Yorkshire more than 5,000 people have been identified as victims of mass marketing fraud on the so-called "suckers list." The average age is 74 and the average loss is £1,800.

"What we also know is for victims of doorstep crime their health deteriorates rapidly and they either die or go into residential care two and a half more times quicker than their non-victim peers - the health impact is massive," says Linda.

But she explains doorstep crime reporting tends to be low with only 10 per cent of cases reported.

Now Linda and the team are keen to raise awareness of potential scams, and also to prevent them falling victim to so-called 'rogue traders.'

Linda says they have seen an increase in so-called 'rogue traders' diversifying from doing jobs such as gardening into other property maintenance jobs such as double glazing.

She advises people to use the Age UK business directory to find a reputable tradesman by visiting the charity's website ageuk.org.uk.

Linda also hopes to encourage more people to report incidents. "We are identifying more victims and, of course, we have those on the so-called "suckers list" and we have to do something to support these victims because in that mass marketing world if you are a victim of scam mail there is a 60 per cent chance of becoming a victim of doorstep crime," explains Linda.

"There is a lot of evidence of people being repeatedly targeted by lots of different companies when they become lonely, isolated and vulnerable."

Linda says the expansion of the team is 'critical.' "It is critical, all the agencies need to work together," she says, referring to the victims' varying circumstances.

Some may have social care needs, others may not; some may be affected by loneliness and isolation and may need befriending support - the key element is working together the agencies can provide that support.

"I think it is innovative we have got that team together. We share data, we are working together, we are all joining together as an army of support for victims."

To help raise the profile, and also advise and support who may be at risk of being scammed, the team are planning some 'Days of Action' in the next few weeks.

For information about the community workshops and to find out about the work of the SAFER project call the team on 0113 393 9910 or email safer@wyjs.org.uk